Alabama political leaders react to U.S. Supreme Court decision on Congressional redistricting case
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Alabama political leaders are speaking out about a U.S. Supreme Court decision on a redistricting case in Louisiana that could have an effect on Alabama’s congressional districts.
The Supreme Court found that a Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana relied too heavily on race in how it was drawn up. The plaintiffs argued the district had an unconstitutional racial basis, and Chief Justice John Roberts described the district as a “snake” stretching over 200 miles in order to draw it up.
The ruling could allow Republican-led states to eliminate Black and Latino electoral districts that tend to favor Democrats. This decision may affect the balance of power in Congress.
In Alabama, the courts redrew the state’s congressional districts in 2023 to allow Black voters a greater chance at electing a second Black representative to join U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell. That led to the election of Black Democrat Shomari Figures in the redrawn 2nd Congressional District in 2024. The state currently has Sewell and Figures and five white Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Here is a sample of reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision from our elected leaders:
Gov. Kay Ivey/Republican: “I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision today in Louisiana v. Callais. While I am encouraged by this decision, it does not yet resolve our ongoing redistricting fight over Alabama’s congressional map. For too long, federal courts forced states like Alabama into a no-win situation at the hands of activists who want us to draw maps that discriminate against our own citizens based on race. As the Supreme Court rightly recognized, the Alabama of today is not the Alabama of the past, and we are proud of our progress. Litigation surrounding Alabama’s congressional districts is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, and Alabama is currently under a court order prohibiting the use of new congressional districts until after the 2030 census. While we are not in position to have a special session at this time, I hope in light of this new decision, the court is favorable to Alabama.”
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures/Democrat: “Although today’s decision does not make changes to Alabama’s current congressional districts, it has made proving future racial discrimination in redistricting cases significantly tougher. It will lead to states, primarily in the South, launching immediate efforts to redraw districts in ways that will dilute the impact of Black voters and drastically reduce the number of realistic opportunities to elect Black members to Congress. This is unfortunate, especially in Alabama, given the role that brave men, women and children played in this State in spearheading the Voting Rights Movement. While Alabama’s congressional district lines currently remain in place until after the 2030 census, I hope that courts will vigorously enforce the Voting Rights Act across the country. The fight for fair representation continues, so now more than ever, it is critical that every American get involved, get registered to vote, and get out to vote.”
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell/Democrat: “Today’s decision is a devastating blow to American democracy and a death sentence for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The right-wing Supreme Court has not only turned its back on decades of precedent and ignored the intent of Congress and the will of the people, but it has weakened the foundational principle safeguarding fair representation for Black and minority voters. For decades, Section 2 has been the essential tool that allowed minority voters to challenge discriminatory maps and defend our right to meaningful political power. By gutting it, the Court has made it easier for bad actors to discriminate and harder for us to fight that discrimination in court. The decision is a gift to President Trump and his voter suppression scheme, making it easier for Republicans to steal congressional seats by diluting the voices of Black and minority voters. As the representative of Alabama’s 7th District—a district whose very existence was secured through the Voting Rights Act—I know firsthand what is at stake. This decision will determine whether communities like ours can elect leaders who understand their lived experiences and fight for their needs. Its impact will not be confined to one state or one election cycle. It will shape who gets heard in our democracy, who gets counted, and whose voice gets left behind. The attacks on our voting rights are coming from every angle. Now more than ever, communities across the nation must mobilize and vote like we’ve never voted before. If the Court won’t protect the rights of Black and minority voters, Congress must act. We must revise and pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full protections of the VRA. And we must reaffirm, through action, that every American deserves an equal voice in our democracy. The right to vote is the lifeblood of our democracy. In the spirit of John Lewis, we will continue to make ‘Good Trouble’ until the promise of democracy is real for all.”
Attorney General Steve Marshall/Republican: “The Supreme Court has spoken. States cannot be forced to gerrymander by race. Louisiana v. Callais is a watershed moment. The Court has shut the door on vote-dilution claims that use racial data to disguise what are really partisan disputes. Alabama has been fighting this battle for many years, and today the Supreme Court confirmed our long-held argument that States must not use race, either to help or to harm particular voters, when drawing voting districts. The Court rightly acknowledged that the South has made extraordinary progress, and that laws designed for a different era do not reflect the present reality. We will act as quickly as possible to apply this ruling to Alabama’s redistricting efforts and ensure that our congressional maps reflect the will of the people, not a racial quota system the Constitution forbids.”
